EVERY parent has cause to celebrate on the birthday of a child - but none more so than Tasveer Hussain.

The 16th birthday of her first-born daughter Addeba is a milestone she never thought she would see.

“She’s our angel,” said Tasveer, obviously proud, “every day with her is a miracle.”

And this is no exaggeration.

Tasveer was only 23 weeks into her first pregnancy when she started feeling ill.

Husband Ashiq, 50, was working in a takeaway in Yarm and couldn’t drive at the time, so Tasveer went to the hospital to be checked over.

Tasveer, 35, of Middlesbrough, said: “I was in shock when they said I was in labour, just a couple of weeks before we had the scan and everything was OK. I’ll never forget the moments after that though, when the nurse came in.”

Tasveer was visited by an elderly midwife who gently explained that the baby would be born dead.

“I’m not sure my mind allowed me to believe it - because the next minute Addeba was born. She was so small and it was so quick - she just fell onto the midwife’s hand.”

With hands the size of Tasveer’s thumbnail, tiny Addeba weighed in at just 550g or 1lb and 4oz, fighting for breath.

Consultant neonatologist Dr Win Tin, remembers her being born.

“It was Saturday, the 16th of March and she weighed just more than a pound,” said Dr Tin of James Cook University Hospital.

“She was only 23 weeks’ gestation - not classed as viable until 24 weeks - which means she was susceptible to eye and brain problems - issues which Addeba didn’t escape.

"But because she was trying to live we helped to stabilise her.”

She spent five months in hospital and was so small Tasveer had to buy dolls dresses for her to wear.

Currently she has a complex list of disabilities. She has severe cerebral palsy and a brain bleed as a tiny baby left her blind and brain damaged.

She also has epilepsy and cannot communicate - but her parents know how to read her body language and noises to know what she needs.

She also lost the fingers on one hand as a result of an infection as a baby.

Tasveer and Ashiq admit it’s not been an easy journey.

The couple are now both based at home looking after Addeba, their 13-year-old daughter Nafeesa and 20-month-old son Adam.

Ashiq quit his job at KP in Billingham as it became too difficult to manage their growing family.

He said: “I had to stop working when Adam came along because Addeba needs constant care.

“If something happens to her - like last year - everything stops and so we needed to have somebody to be there for the other children.”

Ashiq, from Pakistan, is referring to Tasveer’s birthday in 2011.

Tasveer said: “Addeba went to respite care at the hospital for the day, which is actually rare, I prefer to care for her myself.

“But it was my birthday. Half way through the day we got a call saying she had stopped breathing and paramedics were working on her.

“I thought when we got past the baby days we were through the worst of it, but we nearly lost her.”

The thought of losing her first-born is something Tasveer has learned to live with.

“In the early days I would think through her funeral. She was so poorly we had to,” she said.

“Then you have the grief of all the things she won’t be able to do like have her own children or get married.”

But Ashiq isn’t worried about that as it will mean daddy’s girl Addeba, who attends Priory Woods School, will have more time with him.

Ashiq said: “She’s my special girl - she doesn’t want to get married, she wants to stay with her daddy.”

Tasveer said: “Some days all I can think about is what will happen to this beautiful girl when I’m not here any more. Nobody knows her like we do.

“Nobody else is her mum. I have a special bond with Addeba. She’s my treasure.

“When I’m ill I have Ash, who is a fantastic husband, to help me. One day, she won’t have anybody and that breaks my heart.”

Tomorrow, as Addeba turns 16, the family have planned a birthday party at home and mum Tasveer plans to buy her some new gold earrings.

She added: “God blessed us so much by giving us Addeba - it’s not been easy but she’s worth it.”